AMMAN — More than 50 academics and specialists are working to document Jordan’s history, heritage, values, customs and traditions as part of a project aimed at preserving the country’s narrative and passing it on to future generations, Culture Minister Mustafa Rawashdeh said on Thursday.

 

Speaking on Al Mamlaka TV, Rawashdeh said the project began about a year ago following the Crown Prince’s visit to Tafileh and his directive to document the Jordanian narrative, pass it on to future generations and introduce it to people around the world.

 

He said the committees include specialists in history, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, Arabic and other fields, covering different periods from prehistoric times to the modern era.

 

The project goes beyond the history of the establishment of the Jordanian state to include customs, values, traditions, songs, folk tales and other aspects of Jordanian life, Rawashdeh said.

 

He noted that Jordan was not merely a transit area but a settled home to successive civilisations.

 

To broaden public participation, the ministry is working to establish platforms allowing citizens to upload stories, documents and accounts in their possession using mobile phones or other means.

 

The initiative has also extended to universities, with the ministry holding discussions with students in all 12 governorates. The discussions concluded three days ago with a ceremony in Amman, while similar meetings with civil society organisations are being prepared.

 

For children and young people, the ministry has established a directorate concerned with children and launched programmes using technology and artificial intelligence. It also organises creative camps and discussions at youth centres to make the Jordanian narrative part of the daily lives of younger generations.

 

In coordination with the Ministry of Education, the ministry is working to activate historical content in school curricula through school broadcasts, theatre, drama and songs, so the narrative is not confined to textbooks.

 

The ministry has also produced six films addressing the Jordanian narrative and around 100 murals across the Kingdom documenting the history of places and people. It has also produced sculptures reflecting the identity of places and figures associated with them.

 

Some of the films have used artificial intelligence technology, while ministry festivals and events also feature themes related to the Jordanian narrative, including the Jordanian Song Festival and the Children’s Songs Festival.

 

To bring cultural activities to remote areas, the ministry is working on a cultural bus or truck expected to be ready within one or two months.

 

Rawashdeh said the vehicle would include a mobile theatre, virtual reality technology, virtual historical and tourism content, games, books and theatrical performances. It aims to take cultural, museum and theatre activities to different parts of the Kingdom.

 

New schools could provide another platform for the initiative, Rawashdeh said, noting that around 100 new schools were established this year.

 

He said the schools could serve as cultural hubs in rural areas and villages, particularly as some are equipped with theatres that can host plays, seminars, celebrations and other cultural events.

 

The Ministry of Culture’s budget stands at around JD12-13 million, with the government seeking to increase its allocations and support cultural activities under the direction of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, Rawashdeh said.

 

He added that increased allocations would support cultural events in the governorates, develop infrastructure and expand arts training. Most ministry activities focus on promoting values, strengthening national identity and raising awareness rather than generating profits.

 

Regarding the project’s timeframe, Rawashdeh said the term “Jordanian national narrative” refers to the period following the establishment of the state in 1921, while the broader term “Jordanian narrative” encompasses the period before that date.